The familiar thud of rugby boots and the rapid-fire, seven-a-side game return to Bath on Saturday 1 August as the Bath & District Combination stages its annual sevens tournament. The revival this year carries fresh significance: alongside the long-established men’s competition, organisers have introduced a women’s section for the first time, expanding what they describe as a community festival of rugby.
Two venues, more teams and a push for inclusion
The men’s competition and all finals will be played at Avon’s Hicks Field, the ground off London Road West that has hosted many local fixtures. The new women’s pool stages and semi-finals will take place about three-quarters of a mile away at Bath Rugby Ladies’ Lambridge Training Ground, creating a compact, city-centred weekend of rugby.
There will be 16 men’s sides competing and six teams in the inaugural women’s draw. The men’s entrants are drawn into four pools of four, guaranteeing a full day of pool matches before the knockout phases. The women’s competition will conduct pool stages and semi-finals at Lambridge, feeding into the overall finals day at Hicks Field.
- Men’s Pool A: Avon; Avonvale; Bath Combination Rebels; Midsomer Norton
- Men’s Pool B: Oldfield Old Boys; Frome; Corsham; Melksham
- Men’s Pool C: Old Sulians; Trowbridge; Chippenham; Devizes
- Men’s Pool D: Walcot; Bath Saracens; Bath Combination Barbarians; Bradford-on-Avon
- Women’s teams: Bath; Bath Combination Barbarians; Dings Crusaders; Yeovil; Royal Wootton Bassett; Melksham
| Competition | Venue | Kick-off |
|---|---|---|
| Men’s pools & finals | Hicks Field, Avon | From 10.30am |
| Women’s pools & semis | Lambridge Training Ground | From 10.30am |
Matches will begin at 10.30am, with pool-stage action expected throughout the morning and the knockout rounds following. For supporters and players alike, the dual-venue format aims to concentrate the competition within accessible sites in the city.
"With the addition of the women’s competition, we’re aiming for a truly inclusive festival atmosphere."
The Combination’s spokesman underlined the ambition to broaden the event’s appeal. The inclusion of women’s sides signals both growing participation locally and a desire to create a fuller club-level showcase for Bath’s rugby community.
Local context and what to expect
Last year’s tournament moved around the district, with pool matches staged at Midsomer Norton and a strong showing from a number of clubs. In the 2025 edition, Trowbridge took the Cup while Oldfield Old Boys claimed the Plate. This year, several familiar names return, and the presence of Bath Rugby Ladies among the women’s entrants offers a higher-profile local link to the expanded draw.
For clubs, the sevens format is both a celebration and a testing ground: it rewards speed, handling and fitness, and can expose emerging local talents. For supporters, the rapid matches and festival-style setup make for a lively family day out, combining competitive rugby with social atmosphere.
The Combination also flagged other local fixtures of interest later in the season. Combe Down will stage a sponsors and former players day on Saturday 26 September at Holly’s Corner, including a buffet and live music alongside two league fixtures: Combe Down's 1st XV against Devizes in Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern South, and their 2nd XV versus Warminster in Counties 3 Tribute Ale Dorset & Wilts Central.
For Bath residents who enjoy their rugby close to home — and those keen to see the women’s game grow within the city — Saturday promises near-continuous rugby action across two familiar grounds and a welcome expansion of the Combination’s long-running festival of sevens.
